The Announcement!

As I mentioned in another topic Humble Teapologies, I had a forthcoming, exciting announcement to make. Well I think I said something like ... "great, stupendous, exciting, awesome ... news that may also prove to be life altering."

Today I can finally share it with you as the official announcements have been made. I have been asked to be a Core Conference Speaker for the upcoming World Tea Expo in Las Vegas on June 1-3, 2012. I will be presenting a timely 60 minute presentation on what else, Japanese Tea at a pivotal time. I have titled it:

A New, Exciting Dawn for Japanese Tea!

This has actually been a goal of mine for a couple years, but with all the events that have hit Japan, I am very excited and motivated to present this at this point in time. I am also most grateful to the folks at World Tea Expo for this opportunity.

iannon wrote:from looking at the convention website it sems like its an industry only event no? unless i read wrong. looked like you had to be a retailer/wholesaler/etc. to get in?

That's what appears to be the case. On the pricing page, it says that you need to go through your employer in order to get a pass, and that the type of pass you receive depends on who your employer is.

edit: ninja'd by the chipsteredit2: hey, where did his post go?! Chip posted that some tea bloggers were able to attend as media representatives, but his post vanished

iannon wrote:from looking at the convention website it sems like its an industry only event no? unless i read wrong. looked like you had to be a retailer/wholesaler/etc. to get in?

... or "media" which last show I went to included quite a few bloggers (WTE-East in 2011). Media even has its own special pass and category. I actually saw several TCers attending as bloggers.

Also at East were a lot of people simply investigating the possibility of entering the industry or getting started with projections for entering at a date in the future.

Each time I went, it was as a representative of TeaChat. It was not as a seller nor a buyer. Adagio is very careful not to label me as an Adagio employee which would in some eyes create a biased moderator.

debunix wrote:That's been my impression in the past, but maybe knowing a big wig giving a talk (wink, wink), I could get a pass?

No, that is my real hair in that photo.

But there are plenty of Tea big wigs there typically. I was a bit awestruck when I first hit the floor and began seeing icons sitting around talking like mere mortals.

SlientSipper wrote:Ah Chip... Glad to hear it.I am currently living in Las Vegas Nevada right now.

Its a shame that I will be living in Japan by then... Rats! Rats Rats!

Far be it for me to suggest you give up your trip to Japan to attend ... just bring something back for me and all will be forgiven!

Poohblah wrote:

iannon wrote:from looking at the convention website it sems like its an industry only event no? unless i read wrong. looked like you had to be a retailer/wholesaler/etc. to get in?

That's what appears to be the case. On the pricing page, it says that you need to go through your employer in order to get a pass, and that the type of pass you receive depends on who your employer is.

edit: ninja'd by the chipster

(Sorry Poohblah, I hit submit before answering others as well)

I am sure media is still a category as well. Hopefully they would not nix the bloggers, but I will have to investigate.